The Facts on Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called heart disease, refers to the narrowing of heart arteries due to atherosclerosis (see below). The heart muscle does not get enough oxygen when heart arteries are narrowed. If the heart is starved of oxygen, chest pain (angina) occurs. If an artery is completely blocked, a heart attack results. A heart attack is medically referred to as a myocardial infarction (MI). CAD is the most common form of heart disease and heart attack is a leading killer of both men and women.

Many of these deaths can be prevented because some risk factors for CAD are controllable. Some of these controllable risk factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and diabetes. There are other controllable risk factors related to lifestyle, such as not smoking, maintaining a healthy weight, reducing alcohol consumption, and getting physically active.

Although medical treatments for heart disease have come a long way, controlling risk factors remains the key to preventing illness and death from CAD.

Are you at risk for a stroke?

Every 10 minutes on average, a Canadian has a stroke. Could you be next? There are many things that increase your risk of a stroke (called stroke risk factors).

Causes of Coronary Artery Disease

A low supply of oxygen in the heart is most often caused by atherosclerosis, also called "hardening of the arteries." In this condition, fatty deposits called plaques form in the linings of the blood vessels. The plaques make the arteries narrower as they build up, and less blood is able to get through to the heart, depriving it of oxygen.

Atherosclerosis is often the result of too much "bad" cholesterol (low density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides circulating in the bloodstream.

You are at risk for developing atherosclerosis and CAD if you:

have high levels of "bad" (LDL) cholesterol

low levels of "good" (HDL, or high density lipoprotein) cholesterol

have high blood pressure

are a smoker

have diabetes

lead a sedentary lifestyle

are overweight (particularly if you are obese in the torso or have a large waist circumference)

have a family history of heart disease

consume alcohol excessively

Occasionally, a genetic condition can cause atherosclerosis, leading to heart disease.

Men run a higher risk of developing the disease than premenopausal women. After menopause, the incidence of CAD in women increases, and can be equal to men.

Symptoms and Complications of Coronary Artery Disease

Some people with CAD might have no symptoms until the disease is severe enough to cause chest pains, or angina pectoris (angina comes from the Greek word for "strangling").

Stable angina is often the first sign that a person has CAD. Chest pain or discomfort occurs with activity and is relieved by rest. With unstable angina, symptoms become less predictable and can occur when you are at rest. This indicates rapid progression of CAD and higher risk of a heart attack and requires that you see a doctor immediately.

If a plaque lining a blood vessel ruptures, it may completely block an area of the heart from receiving the oxygen-rich blood supply it needs. The starved cells in that area will then die, resulting in a heart attack (or myocardial infarction, MI).

The symptoms of a heart attack are similar to those of angina, but much stronger.

Men will often feel:

constant pain in the middle of the chest that may radiate to the neck, jaw, left shoulder, or arm

tightness or squeezing in the chest

a sensation of "heaviness" or heavy indigestion

sweating, nausea, and vomiting

shortness of breath

anxiety, fear, or denial

In women, the main symptoms can be similar to men but may also include:

shoulder, neck, or back pain

feeling a sharp pain on breathing in cold air

unusual fatigue or weakness

It's very important to get medical help as quickly as possible if you feel you have the symptoms of a heart attack.

The contents of this site are for informational purposes only and are meant to be discussed with your physician or other qualified health care professional before being acted on. Never disregard any advice given to you by your doctor or other qualified health care professional. Always seek the advice of a physician or other licensed health care professional regarding any questions you have about your medical condition(s) and treatment(s). This site is not a substitute for medical advice.